An air‐assisted flow‐gating interface for capillary electrophoresis

A new kind of flow gating interface (FGI) has been designed for online connection of CE with flow‐through analytical techniques. The sample is injected into the separation capillary from a space from which the BGE was forced out by compressed air. A drop of sample solution with a volume of 75 nL is formed between the outlet of the delivery capillary supplying the solution from the flow‐through apparatus and the entrance to the CE capillary; the sample is hydrodynamically injected into the CE capillary from this drop. The sample is not mixed with the surrounding BGE solution during injection. The functioning of the proposed FGI is fully automated and the individual steps of the injection process are controlled by a computer. The injection sequence lasts several seconds and thus permits performance of rapid sequential analyses of the collected sample. FGI was tested for the separation of equimolar 50 μM mixture of the inorganic cations K⁺, Ba²⁺, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, and Li⁺ in 50 mM acetic acid/20 mM Tris (pH 4.5) as BGE. The obtained RSD values for the migration times varied in the range 0.7–1.0% and the values for the peak area were 0.7–1.4%; RSD were determined for ten repeated measurements.     

Determination of ultra-trace levels of cobalt by ion chromatographic separation and chemiluminescence detection

A luminol chemiluminescence detection/flow injection analysis technique coupled with ion chromatography (IC) has been examined for the selective determination of cobalt (II) at pg ml^?1 levels. A barium chloride solution was used as an eluent in the IC to separate cobalt(II) from interferents. When a 100-μ1 sample injection volume was used, the detection limit was 1.0 pg ml^?1 cobalt; the minimum detectable amount of cobalt was 100 fg. The calibration graph was linear above 10 pg ml^?1 and the linear dynamic range extended over six orders of magnitude. The relative standard deviation for ten replicate measurements of 30 pg ml^?1 cobalt was 3.8%. The results of the analysis of a synthetic sample corresponding to a boiling-water reactor coolant and some commercially available copper(II) standard solutions are given.     

Multisyringe flow injection system for total inorganic selenium determination by hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry

A new multisyringe flow injection system for total inorganic selenium determination by hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HGAFS) has been proposed. The flow methodology is based on the simultaneous injection of sample in the acid media (50% HCl), a reducing sodium tetrahydroborate solution (0.18%) and a solution of hydrochloric acid (50%) which are dispensed into a gas-liquid separation cell by using a multisyringe burette coupled with one multiport selection valve. The usage of the time-based injection increases the sample throughput and provides precise known volumes of sample. The hydride of selenium is delivered into the flame of an atomic fluorescence spectrometer by means of an argon flow. A hydrogen flow has been used to support the flame.The technique can be applied over a wide range of concentrations of selenium between 0.1 and 3.5 μg l⁻¹ with good repeatability (relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) values 4.6-7% for 1 μg l⁻¹ of Se). The detection limit of the developed technique (3σ_b/S) was 0.01 μg l⁻¹. A sample throughput was 28 samples per hour (84 injections). The multisyringe technique has been validated by means of reference solid (sea lettuce) and water (hard drinking water) materials with good agreement with certified values. The analytical features were compared with those obtained by using of the commercial flow injection analysis (FIA) system. The proposed method provides a higher sampling frequency and a significant reduction of reagent and sample consumption in front the flow injection application.     

Quantitative Analysis of Genistein in Human Plasma by Online Concentration CE with UV Detection

A rapid capillary electrophoresis method based on online acid barrage stacking has been successfully established for analysis of trace amounts of genistein in human plasma. Genistein was analyzed within 8 min, with 200 mmol L^?1 citric acid (pH 1.7) as acid barrage, and injection times of 180 and 30 s for sample and acid, respectively. Good linearity was obtained in the range 0.05–5 mg L^?1 and the limit of detection was 0.03 mg L^?1. Compared with normal sample injection, this method resulted in more than a fiftyfold improvement in detection sensitivity. The technique has potential for use in studies of genistein metabolism and of exposure levels in humans.     

Use of a Carbon Paste Electrode Modified with Spinel‐Type Manganese Oxide as a Potentiometric Sensor for Lithium Ions in Flow Injection Analysis

A potentiometric sensor constructed from a mixture of 25% (m/m) spinel‐type manganese oxide (lambda‐MnO₂), 50% (m/m) graphite powder and 25% (m/m) mineral oil is used for the determination of lithium ions in a flow injection analysis system. Experimental parameters, such as pH of the carrier solution, flow rate, injection sample volume, and selectivity for Li⁺ against other alkali and alkaline‐earth ions and the response time of this sensor were investigated. The sensor response to lithium ions was linear in the concentration range 8.6×10^?5–1.0×10^?2 mol L^?1 with a slope 78.9±0.3 mV dec^?1 over a wide pH range 7–10 (Tris buffer), without interference of other alkali and alkaline‐earth metals. For a flow rate of 5.0 mL min^?1 and a injection sample volume of 408.6 μL, the relative standard deviation for repeated injections of a 5.0×10^?4 mol L^?1 lithium ions was 0.3%.     

Simplified determination of bacterial contamination by Escherichia coli using a flow injection system with piezoelectric detection

A rapid and automated method was developed for the determination of bacterial contamination and using Escherichia coli as a model microorganism. The method involves the use of a sensor connected to a flow injection (FI) system. The sample is introduced through a flow injection system into a piezoelectric quartz crystal (PQC) flow-cell. The resulting change of the resonance frequency is related to the bacterial contamination in the sample. The parameters associated with the flow system and the conditions for introducing the sample culture were optimized. Calibration curves are linear in the range from 3.2?×?10⁷ to 3.2?×?10⁹ cfu per mL^-1, with a correlation coefficient of 0.997. The reproducibility was between 3.1 and 7.6%, and the detection limit is 1.1?×?10⁷ cfu per mL^-1. The method allowed the determination of bacterial contamination in residual water and in samples of milk and chicken stock within 5 h, while the conventional plate count method requires 24 to 48 h. The results obtained by these two methods are in good agreement.

Rapid determination of 99Tc in environmental samples by high resolution ICP-MS coupled with on-line flow injection system

High resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry coupled with an on-line flow injection system (FI-HR-ICP-MS) was applied to determine the ultra-trace level ⁹⁹Tc in soil. The flow injection system (PrepLab) was composed of two TEVA-Spec^Òresins, reduced remarkably the sample amounts and the analysis time, compared to the conventional analytical methods. In the flow injection system, Mo and Ru were sufficiently eliminated by using the flow injection system, with the decontamination factors of 1.6^.10⁴ and 9.9^.10⁵, respectively. With the present method, it was possible to determine ultra-low level of ⁹⁹Tc in 3-6 g soil at 3–5 hours of analysis time per sample. The relative standard deviation for each sample was less than 4%. The detection limits for ⁹⁹Tc was 85 fg^.ml^–1 (0.05 mBq^.ml^–1), which was calculated from the three times standard deviation of the count rate of the blank.     

On-line preconcentration of perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid by nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis

Separation of major environmental pollutants as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) by capillary electrophoresis is reported for the first time. It is not possible to resolve the solutes in an aqueous media. However, the use of methanol and acetonitrile as the background electrolyte (BGE) solvents allowed their rapid separation in an uncoated capillary. A major effort was put into BGE optimization in respect to both separation efficiency and detection for further on‐line preconcentration. 5 mmol.L^?1 naphthalene‐1‐sulfonic acid and 10 mmol.L^?1 triethylamine dissolved in ACN/MeOH (50:50 v/v) provided best separation and detection conditions. Next, the large‐volume sample stacking and the field‐amplified sample injection were applied and compared. Large‐volume sample stacking improved limits of detection (LODs) with regard to the standard injection by 69 times for PFOA and 143 times for PFOS with LODs of 280 and 230 nmol.L^?1, respectively. Field‐amplified sample injection improved LODs 624 times for PFOAand 806 times for PFOS with LODs 31 and 40 nmol.L^?1, respectively. Both preconcentration methods showed repeatabilities of migration times less than 1.2% RSD intraday and 6.6% RSD interday. The method was applied on PFOA and PFOS analysis in a sample of river water treated with solid‐phase extraction, which further improved LOD toward 5.6 × 10^?10 mol.L^?1 for PFOS and 6.4 × 10^?10 mol.L^?1 for PFOA and allows the method to be used for river water contamination screening or decomposition studies.     

Application of ion-selective electrodes in environmental analysis : Determination of Acid and Fluoride concentrations in Rain-water with a Flow-Injection System

A flow-injection method is described for the measurement of acid and fluoride concentrations. The conditions were optimized to ensure small sample and reagent consumption, low detection limit and the highest rate of analysis allowed by the potentiometric sensor. With a microcapillary pH-sensitive glass electrode, 20-μl sample volumes and 1.0–1.5 ml min^?1 carrier flow rates, strong acids were determined at concentrations as low as 10^?5 M (0.2 nmol of acid in 20 μ1). The relative standard deviation was about 1% at 10?4 M strong acid concentration at an injection rate of 500–550 h^?1. With a flow- through fluoride-selective electrode, 250-μl sample volumes and a 1 ml min^?1 carrier flow rates, fluoride concentrations as low as 10^?7 M were measured (ca. 0.5 ng of fluoride in 250 μ1). The injection rate was 40 h^?1 at concentrations below 10^?6 M, but 60 h^?1 above 10^?5 M. The methods were used successfully for determining the acid and fluoride concentrations in rain-waters.     

A Low Cost Gas Sampling Valve and Gc Set-Up for Analysis of Low Concentration Gas Mixtures

Abstract

A gas sampling valve suitable for on-line injection of low pressure (< 0.5 torr) gas mixtures is described. Its advantages over the commercially available valves are enumerated. An error of < 3 per cent due to non-reproducibility in sample injection was observed. A simple arrangement of column and hot wire detector together with this valve enabled quantitative separation of CO and O₂ with a lower limit of ～ 1 × 10^?7 moles for each component.     

Automatic determination of phylloquinone in vegetables and fruits using on-line photochemical reduction and fluorescence detection via solid phase extraction and flow injection

A very simple, rapid and highly sensitive flow injection fluorimetric method was developed for the determination of phylloquinone. The assay was based on the on-line reduction of phylloquinone in dodecylsulfate micelles after irradiation with UV light. The micellar medium enhanced the fluorescence and stability of the reduced phylloquinone. Under optimum experimental conditions, the range of application of the technique was between 0.09 and 45.0 μg mL⁻¹ and the detection limit was 0.05 μg mL⁻¹. The sample throughput was 90 injections per hour. The reliability of the method for the routine analysis of phylloquinone in vegetables and fruits is demonstrated. Extractions were made with hexane, and an automated solid phase extraction system was used to purify the sample extracts prior to injection into the flow injection manifold.     

X-ray fluorescence analysis of soft materials using needle-type collimators enabling greater tolerance in analysis depth

A simple micro-X-ray fluorescence (XRF) method was proposed by using commercially available injection needles. Two needles were arranged in confocal configuration inside the sample. One injection needle, which was connected directly to an X-ray tube, was used as an X-ray guide to irradiate X-rays into the sample. Another needle, which was also inserted into the sample, was used to detect the X-ray fluorescence excited inside the sample. From the beam size, the analyzing volume was evaluated to be 0.24 mm³. Therefore, the X-ray fluorescence emitted from a micro region inside the sample could be detected, although this method can only be applied for soft samples. It was demonstrated that the X-ray fluorescence of Zn in a gelatin sample could be measured, and a good linear relationship was obtained for this element. X-ray fluorescence from an oyster sample was also successfully measured by using the injection needles collimator system.     

Determination of boron in water by flow injection/inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry

A method is described involving flow injection and inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry for the determination of boron (0.5–25 mg l^?1) in water at a sampling rate of 320 h^?1. An 11-ml capacity cloud chamber, with a tangential aerosol outlet, was used to introduce the nebulized sample to the plasma. The sample volume injected was 300 μl. The relative standard deviation for peak height was 3% for 10 mg l^?1 of boron at a carier flow-rate of 3.5 ml min^?1. The wash-out between samples was improved by using the 11-ml cloud chamber rather than a conventional 110-ml chamber.     

Optimisation of a Flow Injection System with a Piezoelectric Quartz Crystal Detector for the Determination of Inorganic Mercury

ABSTRACT

A new method combining flow injection methodology with quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) detection is proposed for inorganic mercury analysis. A modified simplex method is used in order to maximise the observed analytical signals (crystal frequency decrease). Six parameters were optimised: the concentration of the acidic carrier solution, the lengths of the sample loop and mixing coil, and the flow rates of the sample carrier, the reductant stream (SnCl₂), and the carrier of the mercury vapour (N₂). An increase of 18% in the signal of the centroid of the calibration line was achieved, as well as an increase in the sensitivity from 290 Hz μg^? to 313 Hz μg^?. Following the proposed procedure, detection limits of 47 μg L^? of inorganic mercury were found for sample volumes of 0.5 mL.     

Spectrophotometric Determination of Furosemide Based on Its Complexation with Fe(III) in Ethanolic Medium Using a Flow Injection Procedure

Abstract

A fast flow injection procedure with spectrophotometric detection based on the furosemide complexation with Fe(III) ions in ethanolic media is described. As carrier the flow single line system configuration used an ethanolic 10^?2 mol L^?1 Fe(III) solution flowing at 1.0 mL min^?1, a 50 cm sample loop (250 µL total sample injection), and a 50 cm long reactor coil, at room temperature. The detection at 513 nm presented a linear dynamic range from 1.00×10^?4 to 1.00×10^?2 mol L^?1, obeying the linear equation Abs=8.9×10^?3+22.3×[furosemide] (r=0.998, n=7). The limit of detection (3σ/slope) was 3.00×10^?5 mol L^?1. The proposed method was applied to four commercial samples from different suppliers, as tablets and ampoules, and a synthetic urine sample spiked with the analyte without an effect from the other substances present in the formulation. The proposed procedure presented an analytical frequency of 95 measurements per hour. The results agreed with those from both the label and those determined by a spectrophotometric comparative procedure. Recoveries close to 100% were found in the commercial formulations and synthetic urine matrixes.     

Development and Validation of a Column-Switching LC–ESI–MS Assay for Determination of Huperzine A in Rat Plasma and Cerebrospinal Fluid

A simple and rapid method using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was developed and applied to determine the concentration of huperzine A in rat plasma or cerebrospinal fluid following a single intravenous injection or nasal administration. The chromatographic separation of the analytes was performed by column switching. A Zorbax SB-C₁₈ pre-column was used as the first column for sample clean-up, and then the analytes were eluted onto a Zorbax SB-C₁₈ column, the second column, and detected by electrospray ionization MS using single ion monitoring in positive mode. Hup B was used as internal standard. Linear calibration curve was achieved over a dynamic range of 0.5–500 ng mL^?1 for Hup A in plasma sample and 0.5–200 ng mL^?1 in CSF sample. The inter- and intra-assay coefficients of variation for the analysis were within ±6.67%. The mean absolute recoveries of Hup A from plasma were between 94.7 and 106.7%.     

Simultaneous electrokinetic and hydrodynamic injection with on-line sample concentration via micelle to solvent stacking in micellar electrokinetic chromatography

Simultaneous electrokinetic and hydrodynamic injection (SEHI) of organic cations (tricyclic antidepressant and beta blocker drugs) with on-line sample concentration using micelle to solvent stacking (MSS) was studied in micellar electrokinetic chromatography. Compared to conventional injection, >300-fold improvements in signals were obtained by hydrodynamic injection. However, with SEHI the amount of sample ions introduced into the capillary was increased which afforded a higher gain of up to 4000-fold without compromise to separation efficiency. The electrokinetic injection at negative polarity (anode at the detector end) introduced the micelle bound analytes. The hydrodynamic injection also maintained the MSS boundary inside the capillary. The stability of the MSS boundary affected SEHI where mild conditions that were low voltage as well as pressure injection were desired. The limits of detection were in the range from 0.6–4.2 ng mL⁻¹. A strategy for optimization was described and the method was applied to the ng mL⁻¹ analysis of spiked wastewater after simple dilution and centrifugation.     

Automated high‐speed CE system for multiple samples

A high‐speed CE system for multiple samples was developed based on a short capillary and an automated sample introduction device consisting of a commercial multi‐well plate and an x‐y‐z translation stage. The spontaneous injection method was used to achieve picoliter‐scale sample injection from different sample wells. Under the optimized conditions, a 40 μm‐long sample plug (corresponding to 78‐pL plug volume) was obtained in a 50 μm id capillary, which ensured both the high separation speed and high separation efficiency. The performance of the system was demonstrated in the separation of FITC‐labeled amino acids with LIF detection. Five FITC‐labeled amino acids including arginine, phenylalanine, glycine, glutamic acid, and asparagine were separated within 15 s with an effective separation length of 1.5 cm. The separation efficiency ranged from 7.96 × 10⁵/m to 1.12 × 10⁶ /m (corresponding to 1.26–0.89 μm plate heights). The repeatability of the peak heights calibrated with an inner standard for different sample wells was 2.4 and 2.7% (n = 20) for arginine and phenylalanine, respectively. The present system was also applied in consecutive separations of 20 different samples of FITC‐labeled amino acids with a whole separation time of less than 6 min.     

Off-Line Concentration of Bisphenol A and Three Alkylphenols by SPE then On-Line Concentration and Rapid Separation by Reverse-Migration Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography

A method for separation of four environmentally important compounds (three alkylphenols and bisphenol A) by cyclodextrin-modified reverse-migration micellar electrokinetic chromatography (CD-RM-MEKC) has been optimized. On-line concentration, stacking using reverse-migrating micelles and a water plug (SRW), was used to improve the limit of detection. Two main factors affecting the efficiency of enhancement by SRW, injection sample length and water-plug length, are discussed in detail. Compared with the normal 2-s injection, more than 121-fold enhancement of peak area and more than 71-fold enhancement of peak height were achieved with 120-s sample injection after 120-s water-plug injection. With this optimized separation method and SRW technology, limits of detection were found to be 0.089, 0.030, 0.0091, and 0.033 mg L^–1 for 4-nonylphenol, 4-tert-octylphenol, bisphenol A, and 4-tert-butylphenol, respectively. Calibration plots (R² 0.9968) and relative standard deviations (RSD, %) of corrected peak areas and migration time were also satisfactory. Combined with off-line concentration by solid-phase extraction (SPE) this method might be used to determine these contaminants at ppb levels in groundwater samples.     

Flow Injection Analysis Determination of Ascorbic Acid with Spectrofluorimetric Detection

Abstract

A flow injection system for the fluorescence determination of low level of ascorbic acid is proposed. The method is based on the rapid oxidation of ascorbic acid by thallium(I). The fluorescence signal at 419 nm is proportional to the amount of ascorbic acid in the range of (1.4–28.0) × 10^?7 mole. The relative standard deviations for ten replicate measurements of 1.4 × 10^?6 mole of ascorbic acid was 1.3%. The sample rate of 45 ± 5 sample per hour was achieved. The usefulness of the method was tested in the determination of ascorbic acid in fruit juices and vitamin C tablets.